SHABBONA – Sprinting down the court in a three-man weave, Samantha Mosley dribbles the ball, passes, then calls out her teammates name to make the shot. When the play is done, she hustles back to the end of the line, high-fiving her teammates.

As the season begins, Mosley will be one of only five upperclassmen returning for the 2012 season. What separates her from the rest? Versatility.

Sam is hoping to take a leadership role at Indian Creek, leading with actions more than words. As a sophomore last season, Mosley started on the frosh-soph team. That was until varsity coach Paul Muchmore asked her to take a huge step up and play full time with the varsity.

“It was challenging,” Mosley said. “But it was fun. It was good experience for this year.”

Right away she was an asset to the team with her versatility, as well as her coach-ability. Mosley is prided in her willingness to do the work that most don’t want to do. When it comes to loose balls, rebounds, hustling down the court and scoring on putbacks, Mosley will be the one leading the way.

“For the hard work she has put in from her sophomore year to her junior year, she deserves some recognition,” Muchmore said. “She is that kind of player that doesn’t complain. She’ll fall down and she’ll get up. You ask her to push and shove, she’ll battle with them. She’s not going to complain about not getting shots, she’s happy with her role.”

Over the summer and into the fall Mosley has been determined to improve her game and prepare for this season. She did extra workouts and practiced with the boys team as well, proving to the guys that she can hang in their workouts that included a training program that incorporated weighted vests.

“Just playing with the guys team and practicing with them helps a lot because it challenges you,” Mosley said. “It makes you work a lot harder.”

During the fall, Mosley continued to train so that nothing stopped her from being prepared for the preseason, where she stands now with her teammates working each day to get better.